After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Seeing the fat businessman's pained yet heroic appearance,

Ning Nan smiled and said, "Don't worry, Master Chen. Once this matter is settled, no matter how much silver is spent, I will help Master Zhu earn it back."

The tone was casual, the words were spoken lightly and casually, even with an element of joking politeness, but it was indeed a genuine intention.

Since the other party trusts him so much and has given him so much money, he can offer a few suggestions, big or small, to improve the business efficiency or production efficiency of certain industries... anything is fine.

While the other party makes money, they also indirectly increase social productivity, and we ourselves will live more comfortably in the future, so it can be considered a win-win situation.

As for himself, he had little interest in business and did not harbor any illusions about becoming a big businessman.

The low social status of merchants is a minor issue. The main problem is that once a business grows large these days, it inevitably involves dealing with government officials or local powerful figures. If one is not careful, they might infringe on someone's interests, and if they are caught doing something wrong, their hard-earned business could be taken away.

This is actually a minor matter. The real problem is if they try to wipe out your entire family, resulting in your whole family being exiled or executed.

But since Master Zhu is a relative of the emperor and has connections that reach the highest levels, there is naturally no need to worry about this aspect.

Hearing this, the fat merchant forced a smile and carefully chose his words, saying, "Young Master Ning is too kind... This business is a lowly profession, and Chen and his men can handle it. We really wouldn't dare trouble you with such a matter..."

Chen Ruhai concealed his somewhat bitter expression and put on a sincere and friendly smile.

Young Master Ning's words sound nice, but making money and spending money are not the same thing.

If nothing unexpected happens, the other party will soon be the son-in-law of the Prince Xin's mansion... The son-in-law is indeed very good at fighting, and he wiped out Xiao Chun's gang of bandits in just a few days... But the son-in-law's speed in spending money is also quite a headache and astonishing.

The fat man wiped his sweat. Business is not as simple as the son-in-law thinks. It may not be as brutal as military campaigns, but it is far more complicated. Just in matters like calculation, even a scholar can't compare to him and his family's managers!

If it weren't for the fear of overstepping his bounds, he would even think that the scholar was not as good as himself and his shopkeeper!

Business and mathematics are among the few things he can hold his head high, and the fat businessman is still quite confident.

For him, it would be great if his son-in-law could live a carefree life as a prince consort after Prince Xin ascended the throne and not cause trouble for His Highness... Chen Ruhai sighed silently, expressing his hopes for his future son-in-law in his heart.

Ning Nan smiled, said nothing more, and did not refute. After taking a sip of tea, he said goodbye and went to a room to rest.

...

...

The next day, early in the morning.

The morning mist shrouded Yushui County, turning the streets into a white blur. Ning Nan and Qin Yuanyao, along with their men, loaded several boxes onto a carriage and arrived at the Yushui Thousand-Household Office.

Commander Liu Datong, a burly man with broad shoulders and a thick waist, frowned and pointed suspiciously at a brocade box that Ning Nan had placed on the table, asking, "Brother Ning, what's this?"

Ning Nan opened the brocade box, revealing two hundred taels of gold inside, which gleamed in the white light... After the North-South Poetry Gathering, Ning Beizhi and Shangguan Xiuxiu each gave him one hundred taels of gold, and this time he took it all.

Liu Datong narrowed his eyes.

"Brother Ning, what do you mean by this?" The bearded man leaned forward, his smile enigmatic.

As a hereditary commander of a garrison, a fifth-rank military officer, his salary, according to regulations, is six taels of silver per month... well, six taels of silver on the surface.

However, he didn't drink much blood from his own soldiers, nor did he occupy much land from the military households below him. There weren't many deserters from the garrison, so he wasn't wealthy. He could only make up for his expenses with some miscellaneous income from passing caravans.

Although he also kept some servants who cost a lot of money, he managed to get by and wasn't so easily swayed by two hundred gold coins. However... Brother Ning, once you lift the lid, it's indeed quite a big deal... I thought he was going to bring out the Grand Tutor to scare people... The bearded man smiled.

Ning Nan sat on the stool and pushed the box of gold toward the bearded man's side: "Brother Liu, the imperial court is determined to suppress the bandits this time. Governor Gu has already given orders to the magistrates of the three counties, and the money and provisions are ready." Ning Nan's tone was sincere.

Upon hearing this, Liu Datong remained silent for a moment, then pushed the box of gold back, feigning helplessness, and spread his hands, saying, "Brother Ning, to tell you the truth, our unit is severely short-handed. Last time, following the commander's orders, my troops followed the Jiujiang Thousand-Household Garrison to attack Black Tiger Mountain, but the result... well, don't laugh at me, brother... was a heavy loss... Right now, we don't even have enough manpower for farming..."

After complaining, the bearded man made a promise: "This time, we can send Deputy Commander Chen with four elite battalion commanders under the governor's command, and we vow to wipe out Black Tiger Mountain..."

"Ha, four captains, two hundred men..." Ning Nan placed his hand on the box of gold and smiled, "Commander Liu, the reason the court has mobilized so heavily this time is because the bandits of Black Tiger Mountain disturbed a certain noble person in the court... That's why the governor was sent to wipe out Black Tiger Mountain..."

"Brother, I've heard about it too," Liu Datong nodded. "That Black Tiger bandit! He truly deserves to die!..." The thousand-household unit is supposed to have 1,112 men, but now there are only a little over 800... even 200 is the limit.

Liu Datong expressed his loyalty while cursing the traitors, but he showed no intention of increasing the number of men.

This is what happens when you force something that won't taste good... Ning Nan took a slight breath. Even if you dragged these garrison soldiers over, they would only get a beating from the bandits and then obediently retreat.

After a series of probing questions, we've pretty much figured out their intentions.

Ning Nan sighed and then got straight to the point. He ordered someone to open a large box that had been brought over, revealing a lot of gleaming silver inside. He smiled and said, "Brother, you've misunderstood. Although the court issued an order, the main reason was the anger of that imperial relative. That nobleman won't let us brothers shed blood for him in vain... These boxes of silver, not much, just a few thousand taels, are for rewarding the brothers who went to war."

Any brother willing to avenge the nobleman will receive ten taels of silver, a junior officer thirty taels, a senior officer fifty taels, and a deputy commander two hundred taels…

"As for my brother..." Ning Nan smiled and pushed a box of gold over, then closed the lid and pressed it down. "Please accept this, elder brother..."

Liu Datong stared at the box of gold, frowned, and slowly narrowed his eyes: "You can just go there?"

"Of course." Ning Nan nodded his chin and smiled calmly, "Besides, brothers, for every headhead or captured bandit after conquering the mountain stronghold, you will be rewarded with five taels of silver..."

He paused, his gaze darkened, and his voice seemed to turn colder. "Furthermore, not only will the brothers receive five taels of silver, but the squad leader of this brother's unit will also receive five taels; the captain will also receive five taels... As for you, brother, the commander of a thousand, you will also receive five taels..." Well, the compensation for those who die in battle is separate... Twenty taels for each head.